BEND, Ore. – Three juveniles were cited and several e-motorcycles were seized Sunday after police received several calls about more than 30 young riders gathered at the Mt. Bachelor Park & Ride parking lot, then rode through town in reckless fashion, police said.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday, Bend Police received several calls reporting a large group of teens who had gathered on e-motorcycles in the Mt. Bachelor Park & Ride parking lot at 90 SW Columbia Street. They then took over lanes of travel to ride through town, including downtown, along Galveston Avenue and other westside roads, police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

Callers reported the more than 30 riders were behaving recklessly, doing wheelies and not following traffic laws.

Officers responded to the area and attempted a traffic stop, but many of the riders failed to stop and rode away from the scene, which is a felony, Miller said.

Officers conducted area checks nearby, and three juveniles were cited:

• A 14-year-old on an e-bike was cited and referred to Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice for no driver’s license.

• A 15-year-old on an e-motorcycle capable of going more than 50 MPH was cited for failure to wear a helmet, operation of a moped on a sidewalk and no driver’s license, and the vehicle was impounded.

• A 12-year-old on an e-motorcycle capable of going 34 MPH was stopped while trying to get on the Bend Parkway and was referred to Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice for no driver’s license.

More e-motorcycles were found hidden at a residence, and the homeowner asked that they be removed, Miller said. They were collected as found property.

"As the school year gets underway, this is a good time to remind families to know the rules about e-bikes and e-motorcycles," Miller said in a news release.

"Kids under the age of 16 are not legally allowed to ride e-bikes," she noted. "E-bikes cannot be ridden on sidewalks."

"Many of the vehicles we are seeing on our roadways travel at speeds above 28 MPH without pedaling," Miller added. "Off-road electric motorcycles that cannot be registered are not legal on city streets, sidewalks or trails in city limits."